Joe Wierman to H. C. Wyman

 

 

Wierman, Joe worked an area called Appalacia which was approximately nineteen miles west of Tulsa, Oklahoma, located near the junction of the Cimarron and Arkansas Rivers.  Deputy Marshal Wierman operated a saloon which was located on the south side of the river junction.  His place of business was typical of most of the saloons that were spread throughout the Indian Territory.  They were small frame buildings with high false fronts.  The bars were made of rough planking and the chairs of simple construction.  Smoky gasoline and kerosene torches supplied low levels of light.  The windows were painted over, advertising the wares for sale inside the saloon.  Free lunch counters were set up with surprising large choices of foods.  Cheeses, rye breads and cloves to kill the smell of the whiskey were always present.  Special dinners such as opossum kept the regular customers from drifting to the other saloons in the area.  On one occasion, a known tough rode into town, went to Wierman’s saloon where he drank until he got drunk.  As the whiskey made him crazy, he decided to leave the saloon.  With his revolver blazing, he knew he would soon be confronted not by the saloon owner, Wierman, but by Deputy Marshal Wierman.   He made his way down the street where he hid between two buildings, waiting to ambush the lawman.  Wierman completely aware of the drunken man’s action cautiously approached his prey from his back side where he seized him and took him to the Keystone jail.  The drunken prisoner set the hap-hazardous jail on fire, where he received a good scorching before he got out.  In October of 1894, he was commissioned by Marshal Evett Nix at Guthrie, Oklahoma Territory.  On November 1894, Deputy Marshal Wierman rode with Captain Lillie, Red Lucas and Sam Large to Chimney Rock near Alva where they captured an outlaw called Chicago who was affiliated with the Bill Doolin gang. 

(Indian Pioneer History - Sherman Ackley) (Experience of A U.S. Deputy Marshal) (U. S. Deputy Marshals, I. T. & O. T., 1893 - 1896)

 

Wilcox, A. N. was appointed as field deputy marshal at Durant, in April of 1904, by Marshal George K. Pritchard of the Central District.  In May of 1905, Deputy Marshal Wilcox transported Frank Lamar to South McAlester where he stood trial for the murder of Deputy Marshal William Russell.  On January 15, 1903, Robert Folsom, a Choctaw Indian, killed another Choctaw, Alfred Strickland, near Bennington.  Folsom was arrested, tried in court and released on a bond of $8000.  Folsom feared he would be hung for his deeds so he left Indian Territory forfeiting his bond.  Folsom traveled to Mexico where he lived on the coast for a while before moving back to the western states, working on railroads and at mining camps.  A reward of $1000 was placed on Folsom’s head which lured several marshals to try to capture him.  Wilcox received a lead that Folsom was in Flagstaff, Arizona, so he made the trip only to find that he had left without leaving any traces.  Wilcox returned empty handed back to Durant, Choctaw Nation.  Wilcox made another trip to Salt Lake City where the sheriff of that town thought he had Folsom in custody.  Wilcox’s trip was for naught due to mistaken identity.  A third trip was made, this time the right man was in custody.  Wilcox served a warrant of arrest to Folsom taking him to the Paris, Texas jail where he went to trial.  See Deputy Marshal Tom Latham for more information on an arrest made in Colbert and the prisoner lynched in Sterrett. 

(The Durant Weekly News - May 26, December 22, 29, 1905; January 12, 1906) (The Bennington Tribune - March 23, 1905; January 11, 1906) (The Choctaw News - June 2, 1904) (The Putnam Pioneer - March 31, 1905) (The Durant Statesman - April 5, 1907)

 

Wilcox

A.

N.

D.U.S. Marshal

March 21, 1905

 

Wiley, Lee was commissioned in the Western District at Ft. Smith, Arkansas, serving under Marshal Jacob Yoes.  While serving a warrant of arrest in March of 1891, John Brown was killed.  Lee was acquitted of the killing. 

(Ft. Smith Elevator - March 13, 1891)

 

Wilkins, Colonel served under Marshal J. P. Grady in the Central District in 1901.  In March of 1901, he was one of the deputy marshals that transported nineteen prisoners from the Antlers court to the Poteau court and ten prisoners to the Ft. Smith jail to serve their sentences.

 (The Antlers Democrat - March 8, 1901)

 

Wilkins, Jerry D.  was commissioned on June 1, 1892 and June 10, 1893, in the Western District at Ft. Smith, Arkansas.  He was commissioned in the Northern District of Indian Territory in July of 1902, by Marshal W. H. Darrough assigned as office deputy at Pryor Creek. 

(Ft. Smith Elevator - July 18, 1902) (Ft. Smith Federal Court Employee Database) (File #10, Indian Library, Oklahoma Historical Library) (Ft. Smith Oaths of Office) (Ft. Smith Historical List)

 

Wilkins

Jerry

D.

D.U.S. Marshal

March 21, 1905

 

Wilkins

John

D.

D.U.S. Marshal

Pryor Creek

July 1, 1902

 

WAS DEPUTY MARSHAL AND DAYS OF OUTLAWS

 

September 3, 1909--Muskogee, Oklahoma--James Wilkinson, deputy at Vinita, under United States Marshal Grant Victor, at Muskogee, is the oldest equity marshal, in point of service in the Southwest.  This month he is beginning on his fourth year in the service as a deputy marshal.

          In the Indian Territory days when all the territory now and compasses the State of Oklahoma was under jurisdiction of the federal courts at Fort Smith, with Judge Parker on the bench.  Wilkinson used to ride as a chief deputy.  His life was in danger every time he crossed west of the Rock Island railroad into the territory and vested with outlaws.

Wilkinson has been shot 10 times and has ten ugly scars on his body.  He is now 65 years old but is as bright and vigorous as most med one half his age

 

Wilkins, William. J. was assigned to Norman during the Land Rush of 1889 under Marshal Thomas Needles.  He was one of five deputy marshals that filed an application for a homestead plot and had it rejected. 

(Chronicles Of Oklahoma - Volume 35, 1957) (Oklahoma Land Rush of 1889)

 

Wilkerson, George E. served in the Northern Judicial District in 1894.

 (U.S. Deputy Marshals, I. T. & O. T., 1893 - 1896)

 

Wilkerson, James C. was commissioned in the Western District of Arkansas at Ft. Smith, Arkansas serving under Marshal John N. Sarber.  He arrested George Washington and Charles Chambers in April of 1884, who were charged with assault with intent to kill.  During the same trip he also arrested J. L. Bell who was wanted for murder.  Wilkerson rode with Deputy Marshal Gideon White on April 1893, to arrest notorious outlaw, George Newcome, near Nowata on California Creek. On November 2, 1873, Wilkerson and Deputy Marshal Will Ayers were transporting John Billee with three other prisoners to Ft. Smith. They camped one mile from the Creek Indian Agency near Muskogee where they found a deserted building to sleep in.  Marshal Ayers and the three prisoners were chained together.  Perry Duvall, a guard, slept next to Will Ayers with his pistol in his belt.  During the night Billee slipped out of one of his handcuffs, took Perry Duvall’s pistol shooting him in the head.  Billee turned to Will Ayers, shooting the officer through the right hand.  The slug tore through Ayers hand traveling to the chest, cutting away the right nipple.  Officer Wilkerson was sleeping in another room when the shooting awoke him causing him to rise to his side.  As he reached this position a slug struck him in the back and passed through his kidneys.  The wounded Ayers fighting his pain contained Billee long enough for a guard who was sleeping in the same room with Wilkerson, to shoot Billee in the head.  Billie's wounds were serious but after being doctored he was allowed to be transported to Ft. Smith, where he had an appointment to be executed by hanging on the gallows on April 3, 1874  Wilkerson was appointed again as Deputy Marshal in 1876, by Marshal Upham in the Western District of Arkansas.  He was stationed in Vinita in 1898.  There was a need to clean up Vinita for a large number of joints and saloons opened serving liquor and catering to crime.   By May of 1902, most of the joints were removed with a law not allowing any new joints in Vinita. In March of 1901, Marshal Hackett was placed over the Central District where he selected Wilkerson as jailer of the South McAlester jail.  In May of 1902, James resigned his position as deputy marshal being the oldest deputy marshal in Indian Territory.  In July of 1902, Marshal W. H. Darroughs assigned him as Jailer in the Northern District of Indian Territory.  James was first commissioned in 1870, in the Western District at Ft. Smith, Arkansas.  During the deputy marshal’s career he was shot thirty two times and carried the mark of an arrow on his ankle.

(Muskogee - The Indian Journal - August 24, 1876) (The Cherokee Advocate - March 28, 1884) (Indian Champion - August 14, 1884) (The Antlers Democrat - March 8, April 12, 1901) (The Woodward Bulletin - May 30, 1902) (The Taloga Advocate - June 5, 1902) (Ft. Smith Elevator - July 18, 1902) (Indian Pioneer History - Richard Downing) (Indian Pioneer History - Cleracy -Fields -Smith) (Indian Pioneer History - F. G. Gowan) (Law West Of Ft. Smith) (Hell on the Border-Harman) (Heck Thomas) (Picture - Muskogee Genealogical Society) (Ft. Smith Federal Court Employee Database) (Ft. Smith Historical List)

 

Wilkinson, J. A. was commissioned on July 20, 1892, in the Western District at Ft. Smith, Arkansas. 

(Ft. Smith Oaths of Office) (Ft. Smith Federal Court Employee Database) (Ft. Smith Historical List)

 

Wilkinson

J.

C.

D.U.S. Marshal

Vinita

June 1, 1908

 

Wilkinson, James C. was commissioned on May 27, 1871 in the Western District at Ft. Smith, Arkansas, serving under Marshal Logan S. Roots.  Wilkinson worked an old case which accused James Diggs was of killing a cattle drover in August of 1873, named J. C. Gould.   J.C. Gould, riding with an employee, Hiram Mann were traveling in Indian Territory when they decided to stop for the night.  Their travel had taken them near the Kansas line where they found an abandoned cabin which would give them shelter for the night.  As a new day dawned, James Diggs approached several of the people in the community to tell a story about two men who came into their camp during the night and attacked them.  He told how frightened he was, as he lay all night in the shelter of a large log and the terrible attack made on his employer and friend.  When the citizens of the area went to the deserted cabin, they found both men lying in pools of blood, with their heads bludgeoned with an axe.  Gould was dead and Mann was seriously injured, appearing to succumb to death at any time.  An investigation of the murder scene showed discrepancies in Digg’s story.  His place of refuge was not to be found, tracks from the mounted riders were not detected and there was twenty seven dollars in the lining of his coat, the amount of money that Gould had been paid in bills.   Judge Parker had not yet been placed in charge of the court at Ft. Smith, Arkansas and there had not been any effort to bring any witnesses to the court, so Diggs was released.  Several years would pass, but one officer, James Wilkinson would not forget the case.  Persons that witnessed the tragedy, relocated to Kansas, Missouri, Texas and even Ohio, which made the investigation very difficult.  Mann had been in a comma for more than thirty days, but did recover and moved to Michigan.  Diggs was arrested by Wilkinson and delivered to Ft. Smith, Arkansas to face Judge Parker in his court, which lasted three days.   Testimony from Hamm convinced the judge and jury that Diggs was guilty of killing Gould in cold blood.  He was sent to the gallows to be executed on December 20, 1878.

(Law West Of Fort Smith) (Hell on the Border-Harman) (Ft. Smith Federal Court Employee Database) (Ft. Smith Oaths of Office) (Ft. Smith Historical List)

 

Wilkinson

James

C.

D.U.S. Marshal

Muskogee

September 1, 1910

 

Wilkinson, J. H. was commissioned in the Western District at Ft. Smith, Arkansas.

(Ft. Smith Federal Court Employee Database) (Ft. Smith Historical List)

 

Willard, Joseph H. was commissioned on May 11, 1871, in the Western District at Ft. Smith, Arkansas, serving under Marshal Logan S. Roots.  In June of 1873, Willard led a posse to capture a whiskey peddler named Martin Johnson.  Johnson’s reputation was not good and he had been able to evade the law for several months.  In July of 1800, Deputy Marshal Williard worked with Columbus Ayers.  Deputy Marshal Williard lived in Sculleyville, Choctaw Nation.

(Vindicator - June 14, 1873) (The Indian Journal, Muskogee - July 8, 1800) (Ft. Smith Federal Court Employee Database) (Ft. Smith Oaths of Office) (Ft. Smith Historical List)

 

Willets, Dan was appointed as chief clerk for the Oklahoma District in February, 1902, under Marshal W. D. Fossett.  He had been chief clerk in Marshal Fossett’s office.  In May of 1906, he received an appointment for a similar position under Ben Daniels, Rough Rider who was recently confirmed as U.S. marshal for Arizona. 

 (Woodward Bulletin - February 13, 1902) (The Taloga Advocate - April 24, 1902) (Lenora Leader - May 18, 1906)

 

 Williams, Ben L. was commissioned in the Western District at Ft. Smith, Arkansas.  He was assigned to the Cheyenne-Arapaho Reservation in 1873.   His main duty was to keep the Whites from intruding into the reservation. Ben carried a Colt 45 pistol but depended on his Henry rifle for his marksmanship was deadly accurate and swift as the strike of a rattlesnake.  In the summer of 1874, the Cheyenne, Kiowa and Comanche waged a united war against the hated white people.  Chief Stone Calf led a war party into northwestern Kansas where he met the Germaines, an emigrant family traveling across the prairie in their wagon.  During the attack the parents were killed and the four daughters were taken hostage back into Indian Territory.  Stone Calf and his warriors took the two oldest girls heading south of the Red River where he planned to wait until Chief Little Robe who was known as a peaceful Indian traveled to the Darlington Agency.  Here he planned to make a peaceful surrender to the United States commissioner hoping little action would be taken against him for his attacks on the whites.  Ben Williams was an important factor in freeing the four Germaine sisters.   While assigned to the Darlington Agency, he arrested the Lee brother’s gang whom he had to transport to Ft. Smith, Arkansas for trial.  His route of travel was to take the stage to Kingfisher, continue to Wichita, Kansas and take the train to Ft. Smith.  Friends of the Lees were expected to make trouble when the stage rolled into Kingfisher and Ben expected trouble from the drivers and attendants of the stage coach line.  Before coming to the stage station, Ben stopped the stage and had the driver set by the two prisoners which were so tight that they could not move hand or foot.  The stage proceeded as usual driving up to the station where the station tender was surprised to find himself looking into the muzzle of the marshal’s rifle as the team came to a stop.  Ben completed his trip to Wichita and Ft. Smith without any trouble.  In 1895, he was working the southwestern part of Washita County when he attempted to arrest Bob Moore an old desperado and George East who was implicated in the Texas Express robbery and murder of Sheriff McGee of Canadian County.  During the arrest Deputy Marshal Williams killed both outlaws and one of the posse was wounded.  The outlaws had many friends in the area and trouble was expected.

 (The Beaver Advocate - January 10, 1895) (Edmund Sun January 11, 1895) (Chronicles Of Oklahoma - Vol. 10, 1932)(Ft. Smith Federal Court Employee Database)(Chronicles of Oklahoma - December 1932) (The Moccasin Speaks) (The Chisholm Trail) (Ft. Smith Federal Court Employee Database)

 

Williams, D. A. was commissioned on September 14, 1891, in the Western District at Ft. Smith Arkansas.

(Ft. Smith Federal Court Employee Database) (Ft. Smith Oaths of Office) (Ft. Smith Historical List)

 

Williams, E. F. was commissioned on February 6, 1892, in the Western District at Ft. Smith, Arkansas. 

(Ft. Smith Federal Court Employee Database) (Ft. Smith Oaths of Office) (Fort Smith Historical List)

 

Williams, George E. was commissioned on November 2, November 12, 1885, May 31, 1889, and August 3, 1896, in the Western District at Ft. Smith, Arkansas.  In March of 1887, Thomas Jefferson went to the Dotsons, his friend’s home where he had intention to seduce Mrs. Dotson.  He took advantage of her when he gave her doctored candy which weakened her to his sexual demands.  Seeing that Mr. Dotson was in the way, Jefferson asked him to leave or he would kill him.  Realizing that he was no match to his enemy he went to Ft. Smith to make out a writ.  Several officers, including George Williams, were dispatched to San Bois to the Dotson’s home.  When the officers arrived Jefferson and Mrs. Dotson were not to be found.  The two had fled to another abode where they were found in bed together, a day after she had been abducted.  The woman was restored to her husband and Thomas Jefferson went to jail.  Williams arrested George Scruggs in January of 1890, for adultery.  George worked with fellow Deputies Heck Thomas and L.P. Isbel.   George Williams was killed on November 19, 1907, trying to arrest Earnest Lewis, a bootlegger in Bartlesville.  George Williams and Earnest Lewis had a long time standing grudge which had been created some years earlier.   Deputy Marshals Williams and Fred Keeler raided a beer joint which Lewis operated on the Kansas-Oklahoma line.  Lewis swore vengeance against the two officers.  Lewis then moved his place of business to Bartlesville where he was again under the deputy marshal’s jurisdiction.  Fred Keeler killed Earnest Lewis after Lewis’ altercation with George Williams. He was deployed to a dance in September of 1897 at Eufaula where he was acting as a peacemaker and was shot down by a drunken crowd.

(Ft. Smith Elevator - March 25, 1887) (Indian Citizen - December 21, 1889 & January 18, February 22, & May 10, 1890) (Woodward News -September 24, 1897) (Indian Pioneer History - William Floyd Davis) (Indian Pioneer History - Ellsworth E. McIntyre) (Indian Pioneer History - Ike Nicholson) (Indian Pioneer History - William David Phelps) (Indian Pioneer History - Tice Woods) (Law West of Fort Smith) (Shoot from the Lip) (Heck Thomas) (West Of Hell’s Fringe) (File #10, Indian Library, Oklahoma Historical Library) (U.S. Deputy Marshals, I. T. & O. T., 1893 - 1896) (Ft. Smith Federal Court Employee Database) (Ft. Smith Oaths of Office) (Ft. Smith Historical List)

 

Williams

George

E.

D.U.S. Marshal

July 2 1960 June 30 1907

 

Williams, George H. was commissioned in the Western District at Ft. Smith, Arkansas.  In June of 1886, Deputy Marshal Williams arrested Simon Watson and David Noah on charges of murder committed in Indian Territory.  The two prisoners were taken to the federal jail in Ft. Smith, Arkansas to await trial. Deputy Marshal Jim Yates was shot and killed on August 4, 1891, in South McAlester by a merchant named Bob Marshall who became angry with the officer after losing playing cards.  The game ended when the two men became involved in a row, leaving Marshall badly beaten.  Not to be outdone, Marshall secured his gun, killing Yates in ambush.  Deputy Marshals John Salmon and George Williams were in South McAlester at the time of the killing and were called to investigate the crime.  The Woodward News reported George Williams was acting as a peacemaker at a dance and was shot down by a drunken crowd near Eufaula, Cherokee Nation in September of 1897. 

(Ft. Smith Elevator - June 11, 1886; August 17, 1891) (The Woodward News - September 24, 1897) (Ft. Smith Federal Court Employee Database)

 

Williams, H. W. was commissioned on November 17, 1891, in the Western District at Ft. Smith, Arkansas, serving under Marshal Jacob Yoes.  In March of 1892, he was working in the Choctaw Nation when he served a warrant of arrest for introducing liquor into Indian Territory to Jesse Jackson.  His prisoner was taken to federal jail in Ft. Smith, Arkansas, to await trial before Judge Parker.  (Ft. Smith Elevator - March 4, 1892) (Ft. Smith Federal Court Employee Database) (Ft. Smith Oaths of Office) (Ft. Smith Historical List)

 

Williams

I.

W.

D.U.S. Marshal

Purcell

August 20, 1913

 

William, Former Deputy Marshal, Dies at Purcell

 

January 1, 1934—Purcell—I. W. Williams, 66-year-old pioneer Oklahoman, died early Sunday afternoon at his home here as the result of heart disease.  Williams, a resident of Purcell or 40 years, was a deputy United States marshal in early days.  He survived by a wife and five children.

 

Williams, J. C. was commissioned on July 10, 1872, in the Western District at Ft. Smith, Arkansas, serving under Marshal Logan S. Roots.  Deputy Marshal Williams was living in Van Buren, Arkansas when commissioned. 

(Ft. Smith Federal Court Employee Database) (Ft. Smith Oaths of Office) (Ft. Smith Historical List)

 

Williams, J. E. was commissioned in the Western District at Ft. Smith, Arkansas in 1900. 

(Ft. Smith Federal Court Employee Database) (Ft. Smith Historical List)

 

Williams, Jack was commissioned on August 19, 1895, in the Western District at Ft. Smith, Arkansas.  Deputy Marshal Williams lived in Claremore, Cherokee Nation when commissioned. 

(Ft. Smith Federal Court Employee Database) (Ft. Smith Oaths of Office) (Ft. Smith Historical List)

 

Williams, James W. was assigned to the Muskogee Court in 1894.  Williams was commissioned on May 27, 1896, in the Northern Judicial District.  (U.S. Deputy Marshals, I. T. & O. T., 1893 - 1896) (Ft. Smith Federal Court Employee Database) (Ft. Smith Oaths of Office) (Ft. Smith Historical List)

 

Williams, Jim was a deputy marshal in Salisaw in 1898, when a Cherokee cattleman decided to wage war against the old deputy marshal.  John Blair, alias “Buckshot,” had been in several scrapes before and was a known cattle rustler.  He received his nickname because he had been shot eighteen times.   Rumor was he was going to bring his gang of Cherokees to rob the bank, shoot up the town, and kill the marshal before he left.  Buckshot made a mistake of boasting before doing his act.  Jim Williams was ready for him and his gang when they rode into town.   It didn’t take long for the outlaws to realize they were out gunned.   Blair, along with two of his five gang members were killed before they could get out of town.  In March of 1906, Jim Williams and Will Clark of Sallisaw went to the Black Gum Mountains where they arrested Red Bird Smith and John Parks who were sympathizers of the Wickliffe gang.  The Wickliffe gang was charged with the murder of Deputy Marshals Gilstrap and John Henry Vier. 

(The Woodward News - January 1, 1897) (The Bennington Tribune - March 29, 1906) (Outlaws and Peace Officer Of I. T.) (Ft. Smith Federal Court Employee Database)

 

Williams, John was commissioned on January 4, 1884, October 30, 1886, and May 29, 1889.   Williams was in Indian Territory forty-nine days in September and October of 1885, when he captured Eben Brown and Tom McCoy.  The two killed a white man in the Chickasaw Nation, on May 15, 1883.  A warrant was also served to John Parrot who killed an old man named Adams and his son on July 18, 1884, near Erwin Springs, Chickasaw Nation.  As Adams entered Parrot’s house which was near Red Alexander's store, he was shot.  Adam’s sixteen year old son went for Parrot with a knife, causing him to shoot and kill the boy.   Alex McGonigal, Hunter Cochran and Dick Richard were also arrested, being charged with assault with intent to kill.  Their victims, “Whooping Jack” and Theo Price, violated the intercourse law.   John Williams tracked down Lincoln Sprole a young white man who murdered Ben Clark and his eight year old son Alex on May 30, 1885, at Pauls Valley, Chickasaw Nation.  Sprole had a falling out with Clark and waited for him in ambush.  When Clark drove by, Sprole shot him from his wagon and as the horses started to run the boy jumped from the wagon.  Sprole shot the boy in the leg as he tried to escape and as he lay on the ground, he stood over him, shooting him in the collarbone.  The boy died a few days later from his wound.   Deputy Marshal Williams tracked Sprole down and took him to Fort Smith where he was hung from the gallows on July 23, 1886.  Deputy Marshal Columbus Ayers and John Williams rode together to capture Johnson Jacks who was arrested in the Cherokee Nation on October of 1883, for the murder of Deputy Marshal Addison Beck.  A description of the federal court at Ft. Smith, Western Court, was given on October 22, 1885, in the Muskogee Indian Journal which showed J. H. Mershon and John Williams  working in the Chickasaw Nation. 

(Ft. Smith Elevator - October 9, 1885; August 23, 1889) (The Indian Champion - October 10, 1885) (Indian Citizen - February 15, 1890) (Black Red and Deadly) (Law West Of Fort Smith) (Ft. Smith Federal Court Employee Database) (Ft. Smith Oaths of Office) (Ft. Smith Historical List)

 

Williams, Lewis worked out of the Paris, Texas court.  In June of 1895, Deputy Marshal Williams rode with a posse trying to capture the Christian Gang. There was a warrant of arrest and reward for the gang for murdering Milt Jones, the Police Chief in Oklahoma City.   The lawmen searched the Chickasaw and Creek Nations without contacting the Christians.  The posse met outlaw’s Will Stevenson and Dick Sanger, at a place where they expected the Christians to be hiding.  The two outlaws resisted the posse when confronted resulting in the death of Stevenson and arrest of Dick Sanger. 

(Black Red and Deadly)

 

Williams, Paul C. was commissioned in June 1898 in the Northern District, Muskogee court working under Marshal Leo Bennett.  On March 26, 1907, Paul worked with fellow officer, Ernest Hubbard, Bud Ledbetter and Paul Smith to capture a group of Socialist fanatics at Muskogee. The group felt the United States government did not have any authority over them.  This organization was founded in several Indian Territory towns.  As the Deputy Marshals rode toward a house where the Socialist Group were, a woman screamed “Give it to Bud Ledbetter, remember he kills Niggers.”  One of the Negroes cocked his Winchester but Ledbetter was too quick for him, the fight was on.  The battle started between the four deputy marshals and the Socialist who were armed with Winchesters and six shooters.  After the smoke cleared, fifty shots were fired, killing the entire Socialist group leaving their bodies riddled.  None of the deputy marshals were touched.  In 1907, Deputy Marshal Williams made a gambling raid at Muskogee where he arrested seven men.  Paul Williams was living in Muskogee in 1930.  (Muskogee Times Democrat - October 14, 1907) (Experiences of a U.S. Deputy Marshall) (Black Red and Deadly) (Indian Pioneer History - W.F. Jones)  (The Bennington Tribune -April 4, 1907)

 

Williams

Paul

C.

D.U.S. Marshal

March 21, 1905

 

Williams

Paul

E.

D.U.S. Marshal

Muskogee

February 21, 1906

 

Williams, Phil was commissioned in the Western District at Ft. Smith, Arkansas.  He played an important role in the capture of Bob Rogers on March 16, 1895.  Twelve deputy marshals were summoned to arrest Rogers who was at his father’s home.  The lawmen surrounded the home using the darkness of the night to hide their activity.  The following day before daylight the deputy marshals made their way to the home.  They entered the home without any hindrance from the four occupants.  Officer W. C. McDaniel's led two other officers to the upstairs of the house where they met Bob Rogers who was waiting for them with pistols in his hands.  Rogers was told to give it up but his response was the firing of his pistol which struck McDaniel's just below the heart.  McDaniel's fell backward into the other oncoming deputies which left Phil Williams exposed to Bob Roger’s gunfire.  A second shot struck Williams in the wrist, driving him into the other lawman causing both men to fall to the bottom of the stairs.  The marshals’ force, left downstairs, became excited as they viewed the activity that occurred on the upper story of the house.  A heavy barrage of gunfire was directed to the upper part of the house.  About fifty rounds were fired with one stray slug hitting Bob Roger’s father in the big toe.  Rogers went to Williams’ body to get his Winchester rifle which he fired two or three times before taking cover.  One of Rogers’ friends tried to talk him into surrendering, which he finally agreed to if he was allowed to keep the rifle.  This ploy was to get better location to make his escape.  Rogers came to the downstairs and went into the front yard where he stood before the deputy marshals with Williams’ rifle in his hands.  The escape was attempted as he started firing his rifle and made a run toward freedom.  Twenty-two 38 caliber slugs and two shotgun blasts tore into his body bring instant death.  (Hell on the Border-Harman) (Ft. Smith Federal Court Employee Database) (Ft. Smith Historical List)

 

Williams, Samuel A. was commissioned on May 28, 1889, in the Western District at Ft. Smith, Arkansas.  Sam transported George Bowlin to jail that killed a man named Mize in the Cherokee Nation.   The court charged Bowlin with manslaughter and sentenced him to seven years in the Columbus, Ohio penitentiary.  Williams served as chief deputy marshal in 1889, under Marshal Jacob Yoes. 

(Ft. Smith Elevator - May 24, 1889) (Atoka Indian Citizen - February 8, 1890)  (U.S. Deputy Marshals, I. T., 1888 - 1893) (Ft. Smith Federal Court Employee Database) (Ft. Smith Oaths of Office) (Ft. Smith Historical List)

 

Williams, W. I.  was commissioned in the Western District at Ft. Smith, Arkansas. 

(Ft. Smith Federal Court Employee Database)

 

Williams, William H. was commissioned on June 10, 1893 in the Western District at Ft. Smith, Arkansas.  In 1890, Williams arrested John Morgan on a charge of larceny.  In September of 1893, Deputy Marshal Williams arrested two white men that were introducing and selling liquor in Indian Territory.  Both men were transported to the federal jail in Ft. Smith, Arkansas where they were sentenced. 

(Atoka Indian Citizen - March 22, 1890) (The Weekly Elevator - August 4, September 29, 1893) (Ft. Smith Federal Court Employee Database) (Ft. Smith Oaths of Office) (Ft. Smith Historical List)

 

Williams, Zack was commissioned in the Western District at Ft. Smith, Arkansas. 

(Ft. Smith Federal Court Employee Database) (Ft. Smith Historical List)

 

Williamson, E. N. served in the Northern Judicial District from 1894 thru 1896. 

(U.S. Deputy Marshals, I. T. & O. T., 1893 - 1896)

 

Williamson

E.

N.

D.U.S. Marshal

Vinita

February 20, 1897

 

Willard, 

(Ft. Smith Historical List)

 

Willie, Sorelip was commissioned in the Western District at Ft. Smith, Arkansas.

(Ft. Smith Federal Court Employee Database)

 

Willits

D.

N.

D.U.S. Marshal

Guthrie

April 7, 1902

 

Wills, Charles N. was commissioned on July 18, 1893, in the Western District at Ft. Smith Arkansas, serving under Marshal George J. Crump.   In July of 1893, Charles arrested two white men, W. S. Hawthorne and Bill Henson at LeFlore, Choctaw Nation for introducing and selling liquor in Indian Territory.  

(The Weekly Elevator - August 4, 1893) (Ft. Smith Federal Court Employee Database) (Ft. Smith Oaths of Office) (Ft. Smith Historical List)

 

Wilson, A. brought in Creek Indian, Gibson Partridge, who was the last gang member of the Wesley Barnett gang.  He had several outstanding warrants of arrest, such as murder, assault to kill, and horse stealing.  The warrants were for three murders that he committed, including killing his own father.  When Wilson served the warrant he expected Partridge to fight to the death.  He knew a death sentence awaiting him in Ft. Smith when he faced “Hanging Judge” Parker.  Partridge was holed up in a cabin on the Verdigris River, belonging to a Creek medicine man.  The arrest was made without any incident.  He was tried November 15, 1890, for the murder of an old man who ran the pumping station for the Frisco road, near Tulsa.  He pleaded guilty to assault with intent to kill and was sentenced to the penitentiary at Detroit, Michigan, for five years but died before completing the sentence.

(Territorial Topic - March 6, 1890) (Hell on the Border - Harman)

 

Wilson, Buford was commissioned in Oklahoma Territory to serve as a Land Rush deputy marshal in 1889. 

(Chronicles of Oklahoma - Volume 48, 1970)

 

Wilson, Charles B. was commissioned on July 10, 1872, in the Western District at Ft. Smith, Arkansas, serving under Marshal Logan S. Roots.  Deputy Marshal Smith was living in Ft. Smith, Arkansas, when commissioned. 

(Ft. Smith Federal Court Employee Database) (Ft. Smith Oaths of Office) (Ft. Smith Historical List)

 

Wilson

Charles

H.

D.U.S. Marshal

McAllister

February 16, 1912

 

Wilson, C. E. was working with Deputy Marshal McGlothlin of Tulsa when they shot a man by mistaken identify due to the darkness of the night.  The two officers were in pursuit of a bootlegger and mistook the Reverend Sylvester Morris for him.  They were taken before the federal grand jury where they were indicted for 1st degree murder.  The incident caused considerable excitement among a certain sector of residents in Tulsa, which resulted in talk of lynching the two lawmen. 

(The Seiling Guide - October 3, 24, 1907)

 

Wilson, C. R. worked with Heck Thomas, Orrington “Red” Lucas and Floyd Wilson in 1882, in the Choctaw and Chickasaw Nations.  They arrested twenty-two prisoners for peddling whiskey.  In June of 1898, Wilson was appointed by Marshal Leo Bennett in the Northern District, Muskogee.  In February of 1907, Wilson was appointed deputy marshal with headquarters at Keifer.  Wilson was still alive in 1930, living in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

(The Seiling Guide - February 7, March 7, 1907) (Indian Pioneer History - W. F. Jones) (Experience Of A U.S. Deputy Marshal)

 

Wilson

C.

R.

D.U.S. Marshal

January 18, 1907 to June 30, 1907

 

Wilson, E. M. was appointed field deputy marshal at Atoka, Choctaw Nation, in April of 1904, by Marshal George K. Prichard of the Central District.  (Woodward Bulletin - April 1, 1904) (The Choctaw News - June 2, 1904)

 

Wilson, J. A. Deputy U. S. Marshal

 

Two Pioneer U. S. Marshals Remove Badges Today, Retire

 

June 14, 1947—Muskogee, OK—Retirement of two veteran deputies United States marshals of the eastern Oklahoma federal judicial district has been announced by Granville Norris, U. S. marshal.

          Clinton A. Hunt, whose home is in Okemah.  Saturday will end 13 years of service in the marshal’s office here, while J. A. Wilson, who first was appointed a deputy U. S. marshal on August 15, 1913, already has left the ranks of peace officers.

          Wilson served until May 15, 1931, when he became a special investigator for the Kansas City Southern railroad, serving in this capacity until 1931.  Then he was employed with the stolen car division of the state highway department.  In September 1934 he was reappointed. U. S. deputy marshal and had served since that time.

          Wilson participated in many of the turbulent scenes of early Oklahoma which were lurid in the annals of law enforcement in the eastern section. He began his career as a law enforcement officer as a deputy sheriff in Sequoyah County in 1909.

          Hunt, in commenting on his retirement, observed that “in all the years I have been a deputy here, I never have had any trouble with any of the hundreds of prisoners I have take to penal institutions.
          The largest number he ever escorted at one time to an institution, he said, was 48. He lodged them safely in the federal reformatory at El Reno.

          Just a year ago, June 11, 1946, Wilson was shot by Donald Dubie, a prisoner he was taking to Leavenworth, and was in critical condition for many weeks.  Dubie in turn was shot and killed.

 

Wilson, J. D. and W. H. Carr arrested G. C. Autrey and A. A. Randolph of Thackerville for introducing.  Both men had two gallons of whiskey.  The duo was transported to the federal court in Paris, Texas, where they were tried.

 

Wilson

J.

H.

D.U.S. Marshal

April 28, 1898

 

Wilson, Floyd was commissioned on January 5, 1884, in the Western District at Ft. Smith, Arkansas, serving under Marshal Thomas Boles.  Floyd rode with fellow Deputy Marshals Bob and Grat Dalton in 1889, to capture two escaped convicts, Carroll Collier and Bud Maxfield from the Arkansas State Penitentiary. In 1882, he worked with Heck Thomas and Red Lucas in the Choctaw and Chickasaw Nation where they made twenty-two arrests.  In June of 1884, Floyd rode with Deputy Marshal Bass Reeves when they tried to arrest Jim Webb who was wanted for a murder that had occurred two years previous.  Webb killed a preacher who accidentally started a grass fire that spread to the ranch that he was in charge of.  The arrest ended in a shoot-out with Webb and one of his comrades, Frank Smith.  Bass Reeve shot Smith and Webb was taken prisoner.  In June of 1890, Floyd arrested Annie King, Joe and Adam Banks.  Joe Banks and Annie developed a love relationship so they eliminated her husband which allowed them to marry.  This also allowed Joe’s son Adam to marry Annie’s stepdaughter.  Eleven months after Mr. King’s death his body was found in a creek near his home, In March of 1890, Floyd set out to capture Creek Indian, Gibson Partridge, who had eluded the marshals for two years.  He received word that Partridge was working in his area.  Floyd tracked him for a week before arresting him at Tulsa, Creek Nation.  On December 14, 1892, Floyd Wilson was killed by Henry Starr, a noted robber, desperado and half breed Cherokee Indian. Near Lenapah, in the California Creek country, sixteen miles south of Coffeyville, Kansas, Wilson tried to serve him with a warrant of arrest for larceny and selling whiskey.  Richard Robert Mason reported in Indian Pioneer History that the murder scene was on the Halsell Ranch near Collinsville.  Wilson and Special Detective W. C. Dickey came upon Starr in a clearing on Wolf Creek and Wilson with Winchester in hand ordered Starr to surrender.  The reply was a shot from Starr’s rifle.  Wilson fired once and then his gun refused to work and Starr discharged his Winchester ten times at the brave marshal, who finally fell dead in his tracks.  After killing Wilson, Henry Starr seemed to go crazy.  He gobbled like a turkey and stamped all over Floyd Wilson’s body.  Where Dickey was and what he was doing during the killing of his associate is not known, but as Starr got away without a scratch it would seem the detective was probably working under cover.  After Starr left, Dickey brought Wilson’s body into Lenapah and it was delivered to Ft, Smith, Arkansas, by passenger train.  Henry Starr was captured and stood trial for the death of the twenty-eight year old Floyd Wilson.  Starr was charged with manslaughter, receiving a sentence of twenty-five years.  Within two years, Henry Starr was given a pardon, returning to Indian Territory. 

(Atoka Indian Citizen - February 15, April 5, 19, May 10, 17, & June 28, 1890) (Ft. Smith Elevator - May 2, 1890) (Indian Chieftain, Vinita - December 15, 1892) (The Weekly Elevator - July 7, 1893) (Indian Pioneer History - Richard Robert Mason) (Experiences of a U.S. Deputy Marshal) (Law West Of Fort Smith) (Outlaws on Horseback) (Heck Thomas) (West of Hell’s Fringe) (Purple Sage) (Black Red and Deadly) (Outlaws and Peace Officers) (Oklahombres) (Ft. Smith Federal Court Employee Database) (Ft. Smith Oaths of Office) (Ft. Smith Historical List    

 

Wilson, John was commissioned in the Western District at Ft. Smith, Arkansas.

(Ft. Smith Federal Court Employee Database) (Ft. Smith Historical List)

 

Wilson, John F. was commissioned on April 22, and July 8, 1896, in the Western District at Ft. Smith, Arkansas.  Deputy Marshal Wilson lived in Tahlequah, Cherokee Nation when he was commissioned.  Wilson was serving as city marshal at Nowata when he became involved in a shoot-out with a stranger which ended with both men dead.  Several months before the half-brother of the man killed was killed by Wilson in an exchange of gunfire.

(Indian Chieftain, Vinita - February 10, 1898) (Ft. Smith Federal Court Employee Database) (Ft. Smith Oaths of Office) (Ft. Smith Historical List)    

 

Wilson, Joseph was commissioned in Indian Territory at the Muskogee District, serving under Marshal Thomas Needles while living in Logan County.  He was killed on September 22, 1891, trying to serve a warrant of arrest for liquor violations to Sam Hickory on Fourteen Mile Creek near Tahlequah, Cherokee Nation.  Wilson tried to locate Hickory’s home and after missing it several times stopped at the residence of John Carey who escorted him within a short distance of the home.  Carey did not want to go to Hickory’s place, in fear there would be retaliation.  The marshal told Cary if he did not find Hickory he would go on to Haskin’s home, the next neighbor, but if he arrested Hickory, he would fire a warning shot.  Hickory was in the field working with his uncle’s team when he was confronted by the officer.  The warrant of arrest was accepted without any problems but requested that he be allowed to take the team to the house.  Permission was needed from his uncle before he could use one of the horses to make the trip to Tahlequah.  Wilson, agreeing with the plan, took his captive to the house, only to find that his uncle was gone.  Hickory started into the house to get his saddle when Wilson fired a warning shot into the air.  Not knowing anything about the planned shot, Hickory rushed inside to get his own gun and appeared at the door with his gun in hand.  In the meantime, Wilson fired a second warning shot, causing Hickory to think the marshal was shooting at him.  Hickory’s wife became frightened, running to the trees for protection.  After several shot were exchanged, Wilson went to the side door of the house, gaining position behind Hickory.  A fast response by Hickory sent the officer to the floor, with blood gushing from his breast.  A severely wounded Wilson got to his feet and tried to walk to his horse, but fell down in the yard, after traveling a short distance.   The marshal’s body was taken by wagon and thrown into a gulch about a mile from the house, where it was found three days later.  This was the story Sam Hickory told at his trial, claiming self defense as Wilson fired the first shot.  The federal marshal’s opinion was Wilson took Hickory to the house to get his saddle and while inside, he went for his gun.  Shots were exchanged, sending Wilson to the side door, where he gained entry and was severely wounded.  He did not die as expected and the following day, Hickory’s neighbor, Tom Shade, learning that he was still alive, took an axe and hit him in the back of the head, killing him.   Hickory and Shade were both tried concurrently, in the Ft. Smith court.  Shade was acquitted and Sam Hickory was convicted of murder, sentenced to hang.  An appeal was placed to the Supreme Court requesting a new trial, which was granted.  The second trial was held nearly a year later, the outcome, the same as the first.  Again the defense asked the Supreme Court for another trial which was again granted but this time the charge was reduced to manslaughter.  Hickory went to the penitentiary to serve five years in conjunction with the five years that he had already served. The Territorial Topic and Ft. Smith Elevator reported similar stories stating that officer Wilson went to arrest Sam Downing on a whiskey charge at his home, ten miles from Tahlequah, Cherokee Nation.  Downing, a full blood Cherokee shot Wilson and left him lying there all night.  He was still alive the next morning so Downing beat his brains out with a club.  Everything of any value was taken from his body, dragged to the hills and thrown into a ravine.  The throat of Wilson’s horse was cut before he escaped.  The reward on Hickory and Downing’s head was $500.  Downing was arrested in October of 1891, due to the persistence of Marshal Needles who used a large number of officers in the search at his own personal expense.

(The Territorial Topic - October 8, 22, November 19, 1891) (Indian Chieftain, Vinita - October 8, 1891) (Ft. Smith Elevator - October 2, 1891) (Law West Of Fort Smith) (Hell on the Border-Harman) (Ft. Smith Federal Court Employee Database) (Ft. Smith Historical List)  

 

Wilson

Joe

A.

D.U.S. Marshal

April 2, 1905

 

Wilson, Lee was commissioned in the Western District at Ft. Smith, Arkansas. 

(Ft. Smith Federal Court Employee Database)

 

Wilson, Tom worked with Deputy Marshal Lon Lewis in 1895, when the two deputy marshals deputized Tom’s nephew, Lack Wilson, and Lon’s brother, S.R. Lewis, to try to arrest fugitives Texas Jack, a train robber who escaped from the Muskogee jail, and an unknown gambler who broke jail at Sapulpa.  Another warrant of arrest was for a Creek Indian named Gube Childers, wanted for cattle rustling.  The officer’s search led them to a dance in Stringtown where the town was in celebration of a festival.  Tom Wilson served a warrant of arrest to Gube Childers, placing him under guard for the night.  The next morning when it came time for to mount his horse to make the trip to the Muskogee jail, Gube refused.  A large group of Creek Indians gathered around the marshals with their rifles in hand.  Gube told the lawmen he had already been tried in the Creek Indian court and had been acquitted of the cattle rustling charges.  One of the men in the crowd, N. B. Childers, an uncle to Gube Childers, was judge of the Creek Coweta District.  The marshals asked the judge if it was correct that Gube had been acquitted of the charges.  The old judge told them the cattle belonged to a white man married to a Creek Indian woman and the Creek Indian court did not have jurisdiction over the case.  Judge Childers told Gube he needed to go with the officers to Muskogee where he would have to wait a couple of days for him to make his bond.  Gube Childers was sentenced to the federal penitentiary for three years. 

(Indian Pioneer History - Chauncy Moore)

 

Wilson

Thomas

D.U.S. Marshal

Webber's Falls

March 11, 1905

 

Wilson, William was commissioned in 1899, at the Western District at Ft. Smith, Arkansas, serving under Marshal Solomon F. Stahl. 

(Ft. Smith Federal Court Employee Database) (Ft. Smith Historical List)

 

Wingo, Ed, was commissioned in the Western District at Ft. Smith, Arkansas, serving under Marshal Jacob Yoes.  In January of 1887, Deputy Marshals Wingo and Tyner Hughes arrested Frank Crutchfield in Indian Territory, wanted on a charge of assault with intent to kill.  Cruthchfield was taken to the Ft. Smith federal jail, but escaped.  Deputy Marshal Pelley shot and badly wounded Crutchfield when he recaptured him in McAlester, Choctaw Nation.  on February 7, 1887, he was attempting to arrest a full blood Indian, Mesquite Joe who joined forces with another bad outlaw, named Jim Long.  Not to be arrested, Long fired at Wingo’s forces, bringing about a gun battle, causing Long’s death but enabling a wounded Mesquite Joe to escape. 

(Ft. Smith Elevator - February 4, 1887) (Heck Thomas)

 

Wingo, Samuel was commissioned on July 21, and in October of 1885, in the Western District at Ft. Smith, Arkansas, serving under Marshal Thomas Boles, assigned to the Choctaw Nation.  Deputy Marshal Wingo was commissioned again on November 1, 1886 and March 7, 1888.  Sam and Tyner Hughes brought in Wiley Frazier, Negro, Tom Harjo, Creek Indian - both being charged with murder.  York Newell, white - intent to kill.  Harcole, Indian - horse stealing.  Two whites - Introducing whiskey in Indian Territory.  Frazier killed an infant, the illegitimate offspring of his own daughter.  Tom Harjo killed a white man named Holland six years earlier. 

(Ft. Smith Elevator - December 25, 1885; May 21, 1886) (Black Red and Deadly) (Ft. Smith Federal Court Employee Database) (Ft. Smith Oaths of Office) (Ft. Smith Historical List)

 

Wingo, William W. was commissioned as deputy marshal in the Western District at Ft. Smith, Arkansas, living in Hartshorne.  Deputy Marshal Sam Wingo, who served in 1885 through 1888, was a brother to William. 

(Indian Pioneer History - William W. Wingo)

 

Winn, Zadock was commissioned in the Western District at Ft. Smith, Arkansas. 

(Ft. Smith Federal Court Employee Database)

Winningham, George Deputy U. S. Marsahl

 

Hanging Judge's Last Deputy Dies

Former Marshal, 101 Dies at McAlester

 

December 16, 1961-McAlester-George Winningham, who celebrated his 101st birthday April 14, died here Friday at the home of a daughter.

          Winningham, an early-day U. S. deputy marshal in this area, had been ill since suffering a stroke about 14  years ago.

 

Winsters, Smith was commissioned in Oklahoma Territory by Marshal Thomas Needles, assigned to Guthrie in the 1889 Land Rush. 

(Oklahoma Land Rush of 1889)

 

Winston, George S. was commissioned in the Western District at Ft. Smith, Arkansas, serving under Marshal John Sarber.  He was appointed in 1873, by Judge Story, as special private bailiff and remained with Judge Parker court when he became judge.

 (Hell on the Border-Harman) (Ft. Smith Historical List)

 

Winton, D. L. was commissioned on May 23, 1871, and July 23, 1872, in the Western District at Ft. Smith, Arkansas, serving under Marshal Logan S. Roots.  Deputy Marshal Winton was living in Ft. Smith, Arkansas, when he was commissioned. 

(Ft. Smith Federal Court Employee Database) (Ft. Smith Oaths of Office) (Ft. Smith Historical List)

 

Wisby, John R. was commissioned at Alva, Oklahoma Territory in January of 1895, serving under Marshal Evett Nix.  He was placed over the Pawnee District in February of 1896. 

(West of Hell’s Fringe) (U.S. Deputy Marshals, I. T. & O. T., 1893 - 1896)

 

Wisby

John

R.

D.U.S. Marshal

Pawnee

March 11, 1905

 

Wisby, Sam T. was commissioned in Oklahoma Territory as assistant chief clerk for Marshal Evett Nix’s office at Guthrie in 1895.  He was a brother to John R. Wisby.  

(Oklahombres) (Shoot from the Lip) (U.S. Deputy Marshals, I. T. & O. T., 1893 - 1896)

 

Wise, John was commissioned in Indian Territory working out of the Muskogee court under Marshal Thomas Needles.  He arrested a man north of Muskogee, Indian Territory, who was charged with counterfeiting.  The counterfeiter had a mold for coining half dollars. 

(The Territorial Topic - January 9, 1890)

 

Wiseman

W.

P.

D.U.S. Marshal

Holdenville

October 1, 1912

 

Woods, Riley was commissioned in the Western District at Ft. Smith, Arkansas. 

(Ft. Smith Federal Court Employee Database)

 

Woods, William was commissioned on May 31, 1894, in the Western District at Ft. Smith Arkansas, serving under Marshal George J. Crump.  Deputy Marshal Woods lived in Oolagah, Indian Territory when he was commissioned. 

(Ft. Smith Federal Court Employee Database) (Ft. Smith Oaths of Office) (Ft. Smith Historical List)

 

Woody, Charles was commissioned in the Western District at Ft. Smith, Arkansas. 

(Ft. Smith Federal Court Employee Database)

 

Wooford, Than, John was commissioned in the Northern District of Indian Territory at Muskogee serving under Marshal William H. Darrough. He was assigned to Tahlequah, when he rode with fellow Deputy Marshals Ike Gilstrap, Dick Carey, Otis Tittle of Vinita and deputies Bob Thompson and Andy Dick of Tahlequah, in March of 1906, to capture the Wickliffe gang.  The Wickliffe's were full-blood Cherokees charged with the killing of Deputy Marshal John Henry Vier, on February 20, 1905.  After killing the marshal, they took refuge in the Spavinaw Hills near Little Saline Creek, twenty-five miles southeast of Vinita.  There seemed to be an allegiance among the Cherokees to protect one another from any outsiders, especially the marshal’s force.  Deputy Marshals and their posse searched the area, trying to locate the gang who swore they would not be taken alive.  To gain advantage, bloodhounds were brought in for trailing but the gangs were savvy enough to lose the dogs when they got near.  On March 11, 1906, the officers were traveling in a very hilly area completely unaware that their assassins were laying in wait for them.  As the deputy marshals and posse rode into the outlaws leveled sights were met with a barrage of bullets.  The gang had hidden themselves behind large rock boulders which fully concealed and protected them.  As the smoke cleared from the ambush, Deputy Marshals Gilstrap lay dead, Tittle and Carey were wounded, lying motionless on the ground.  Care was taken to kill the officer’s horses to prevent them from escaping, if they survived the ambush.  Those surviving the ambush knew any hope of survival would depend on them staying together and being able to retreat.  Than Wofford, Henry Holdeman, Andy Dick, and Bob Thompson retreated in a hail of bullets.  The site of ambush was near their Uncle Jim Wickliffe's home, built on the bank of Spavinaw Creek, which soon became a refuge for the lawmen.  Several attempts were made to recover the bodies of their fallen comrades but every time a rescue effort was made they were met with resistance from the gang.  Finally, Wofford and two of his deputies were able to ride to the Northern District Court to report the incident.  Hearing of the death of Ike Gilstrap and the wounding of his fellow officers greatly infuriated Marshal Darrough.  The gang’s tactics in leading the lawmen into an ambush clearly showed that the gang had declared war on the marshal’s force.  A posse of one hundred deputy marshals which included the whole Northern District was ordered to the murder scene.  Marshal Darrough placed himself in charge of the forces and increased the reward to one thousand dollars for each outlaw, “Dead or Alive”.   In May of 1906, Than Wooford, Andy Dick and A. J. Long arrested Ben Hungry who was wearing Tittle’s hat, when he was brought in.  He admitted to Marshal Darrough that he was with the Wickliffe Gang at the time of Gilstrap’s killing, serving as a scout and said John Wickliffe was the leader of the gang who killed Gilstrap before robbing his body.  Hungry was charged with taking part in the killing of Deputy Marshal Gilstrap. 

(Marietta Monitor - March 16, 1906) (The Bennington Tribune - March 2, 1905; January 11, March 15, 22, May 24, 1906)

 

Woolsey, Lewis J. was commissioned in the Western District at Ft. Smith, Arkansas.

 (Ft. Smith Federal Court Employee Database)